Prep Boys Golf: Boylan clinches first sectional crown

FREEPORT — Kyle Slattery and Danny Gorman couldn’t remember the last time Boylan won a golf sectional.

Titans coach John Canova couldn’t remember either.

It turns out Boylan clinched its first sectional title in program history with a 310 Monday and advanced to the state tournament for the first time in nine years.

“This was our goal at the beginning of the year,” Canova said. “Today was another rung on the ladder and we’re very excited about going down to state.”

Boylan’s last state appearance was in 2004. The Titans won state in 2003 and were third in 2002.

Slattery shot a team-low 74 at the Class 2A Freeport Sectional, while Gorman added a 75. Both were pleased with how well the team shot as a whole, as Adam Eckburg (80) and Max Marsili (81) also had solid rounds.

“We knew we had to produce four good scores,” Slattery said, “and it was big for Max and Adam to step up.

“Toward the end we knew it was crunch time,” Gorman said. “We didn’t know what the number was going to be so we just tried to grind.”

Shooting at Park Hills can be a grind in and of itself. That grind was a bit more difficult with winds picking up later in the day. Gorman tried to stay less aggressive on his drives to keep himself out of danger.

“The biggest key was just finding the fairways,” said Gorman, who birdied his last two holes. “You didn’t have to bomb it all the way down the course.

“As long as you find your fairways and give yourself a chance on the greens, that’s all you need. The greens were quick, but just get your two putts and get your pars.”

The Titans will travel to Prairie Vista Golf Course in Normal for the state tournament, which begins Friday. Three local individuals also advanced: Dixon’s Ryan Dixon, who shot a 1-under 71 for medalist honors; Genoa-Kingston’s Tommy Lucca 77; and Rock Falls’ Andrew Tichler 78.

Class 3A

No local players made it out of the rugged Class 3A Huntley Sectional at Blackstone Golf Club in Marengo. East senior Jacob Amans came the closest with an 81, five strokes out of the final spot.

Hononegah, the only local team alive in 3A, shot 340 to finish last in the 12-team field.

Harlem junior Joey Watts, second by one stroke last week in the Woodstock North Regional with a 77 at Plum Tree National, was in contention with a 38 on the front. He then took an 11 on No. 10. Watts, bidding to become the first Harlem player to reach state, finished with an 85.

“I was disappointed not to see Joey achieve the goal he had set at the beginning of the year,” Harlem coach Jared Day said. “He played a great front nine. He just allowed his emotions to take too much of him on 10. By the time he recovered, the damage was done.”